Chapter 211 - 209: Showing Off Too Much

"In all of Jingcheng, who doesn’t have to show me, Xiang Huaqiang, a little respect? The person who dares to touch me hasn’t even been born yet!"

Such arrogant words made Ye Xuan raise an eyebrow. Xiang Huaqiang? The Xiang Family? He seemed to have a vague impression of them.

The Xiang Family was in the port business, which made them different from the major Noble Families of Jingcheng. They monopolized almost all the import and export trade in the capital. While their political power might not compare to the Xiao Family’s, they were certainly not lacking in money. The phrase "possessing wealth that rivals a nation" was the perfect way to describe the Xiang Family.

However, it didn’t seem like there was anyone named Xiang Huaqiang in the main branch of the family. Where did this guy get the nerve to speak with such a big mouth?

"Hah, what a big mouth," Vermilion Bird sneered, a trace of mockery in her eyes.

She sneered internally, "The person who dares to touch him hasn’t even been born yet? What a joke. How short-sighted can he be? Jingcheng is a place teeming with hidden giants. Even we wouldn’t dare spout such arrogant words. This Xiang Huaqiang is truly foolish beyond belief."

"Alright, don’t bother arguing with an idiot. Let’s just go inside and wait," Ye Xuan said. Because he wasn’t yet sure of Xiang Huaqiang’s status within the Xiang Family, he didn’t want to start a conflict with him just yet. He patted Vermilion Bird on the shoulder and prepared to head into the bar.

"Hold on. You want to go in? Do you have a reservation? A VIP card?" Ye Xuan had barely taken a step when the security guard reached out to stop them. Looking down his nose at them, the guard was a textbook example of a bully riding on another’s coattails.

"We have a reservation. The Celestial Palace is our booked booth," Xuanwu said with a frown, stating the name of their reservation.

Upon hearing the words "Celestial Palace," the surrounding crowd froze for a moment before bursting into raucous laughter. Xuanwu was completely baffled by their reaction. He clearly remembered the King of the Underworld saying those exact words. Could he have remembered wrong?

"Hahaha, you’re fucking killing me!" The security guard laughed so hard he could barely stand up straight.

Xiang Huaqiang also looked at Ye Xuan and the others with undisguised ridicule. "Listen, bro, if you’re going to act like a big shot, at least make it believable. Do you even know who the Celestial Palace is for? How dare you just throw that name around?" he asked mockingly, giving Xuanwu a look of total disdain.

"What’s the matter? Can’t normal people book the Celestial Palace?" Xuanwu asked, looking at Xiang Huaqiang with genuine confusion. He rarely visited places like bars, so he wasn’t very familiar with the rules of the Lanshan Bar.

Seeing that Xuanwu truly didn’t know, Xiang Huaqiang decided to make things crystal clear for him. "Didn’t you bother to look up the Lanshan Bar before coming here? This is the property of the underground sovereign, the King of the Underworld. The Celestial Palace is his exclusive, personal booth.

"No one but him can reserve it. And you’re telling me you booked the Celestial Palace? That’s the funniest fucking thing I’ve ever heard."

Xuanwu paused upon hearing Xiang Huaqiang’s explanation, a surge of gratitude quickly swelling in his chest.

They had initially agreed that tonight would be Xuanwu’s treat. Although he hadn’t earned much in the years since leaving the Ministry of State Security, he had managed to save over a hundred thousand yuan. That would have been just enough to treat them to a good round of drinks, and he was fully prepared to bleed his wallet dry. But who would have thought that the King of the Underworld would take it upon himself to bring them to his own bar? Wasn’t this clearly his way of sparing Xuanwu the expense?

The man really had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"Now you know you took the bluff too far, huh?" Seeing Xuanwu fall silent, Xiang Huaqiang assumed he was too humiliated to speak. He let out a contemptuous chuckle, then turned to Vermilion Bird. "Hey beauty, these two friends of yours aren’t very reliable. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll show you a life of luxury."

With that, he reached out to touch Vermilion Bird’s face.

Vermilion Bird’s expression changed in a flash. Her gaze hardened, and before anyone could even see her move, she had locked onto Xiang Huaqiang’s wrist. Without so much as blinking, she applied a brutal twist.

CRACK!

Xiang Huaqiang’s arm was snapped in half.

"AHHH!"

The excruciating pain ripped a miserable shriek from Xiang Huaqiang’s throat. The surrounding crowd was utterly dumbfounded, staring in shock for a full ten seconds before snapping back to their senses.

"Men! Get over here! We’ve got troublemakers!" Seeing Xiang Huaqiang get attacked, the security guard frantically bellowed into his walkie-talkie, summoning a massive swarm of uniformed men.

"Fuck! You filthy bitch! Grab them!" Xiang Huaqiang roared, his face pale as he clutched his broken arm. Looking at Vermilion Bird and the others with a ferocious glare, he ordered the Lanshan Bar security guards to apprehend Vermilion Bird, Ye Xuan, and Xuanwu.

Not daring to slack off in the slightest, the guards readied their stun batons and telescopic batons, charging straight at Ye Xuan’s group. Just as a massive brawl was about to erupt, a deep, commanding voice reached everyone’s ears.

"What are you doing?"

The voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it brought the security guards to an immediate halt. Retreating to both sides with expressions of utmost respect, they consciously parted to create a clear path.

"Boss!" they shouted in unison, bowing deeply to the newcomer. Their perfectly synchronized voices vibrated against everyone’s eardrums.

The King of the Underworld approached the center of the crowd with a cold expression, a cigarette pinched between his fingers.

"Boss King of the Underworld, you’re here." The moment he saw the man, Xiang Huaqiang was momentarily stunned before his attitude took a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn, his tone dripping with reverence.

"Yeah. What happened to your arm?" The King of the Underworld glanced at Xiang Huaqiang without much change in expression. Seeing one of his arms hanging limply, he asked casually.

What was meant to be a careless question was misinterpreted by Xiang Huaqiang as genuine concern. His eyes instantly lit up. If he could get the King of the Underworld’s backing, these three people would definitely face severe consequences. Eager to secure his support, Xiang Huaqiang squeezed out a couple of fake tears.

"Boss King of the Underworld, you have to do something about this.

"I came to your bar for a drink, and someone broke my arm! If word gets out, it’s going to affect your reputation," Xiang Huaqiang pleaded.

Looking at Xiang Huaqiang’s feigned look of grievance, the King of the Underworld rolled his eyes internally. He took a final drag of his cigarette and spoke with a hint of impatience. "Who dares to cause trouble on my turf? Tell me, and I’ll handle it for you."

Hearing this from the King of the Underworld, Xiang Huaqiang was ecstatic. He pointed excitedly at Ye Xuan and the others standing nearby. "It’s those broke losers over there! I kindly offered to buy that filthy bitch a drink, but not only did she refuse, she even broke my arm!"

Following the direction of Xiang Huaqiang’s finger, the King of the Underworld saw three familiar faces wearing half-smiles. He instantly froze.

He thought, "What the fuck is this?"

"Anything else?" the King of the Underworld asked, his face darkening as he turned back to Xiang Huaqiang.

Xiang Huaqiang was completely baffled by the question. Then, smacking his forehead, he said loudly, "Right! That guy just now even said they had booked the Celestial Palace! They were trying to impersonate you to get into the bar."

Hearing this, the King of the Underworld’s face grew even darker. Assuming he was furious at the culprits, Xiang Huaqiang became increasingly excited.